Student dies in police custody

A 30-year-old student of law died in custody four days after he was arrested by the Detective Branch of police in Barisal.

Family members of Rejaul Karim Reja said that he died because of torture and that there were numerous injury marks in his body.

Reja died yesterday morning at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) where he was being treated in police custody.

Director of the hospital Bakir Hossain said the young man died of excessive bleeding through his rectum and urinary tract.

Grieving family members said Sub-inspector Mohiuddin Mahi of Detective Branch (DB) in Barishal beat up Reja, leading to his death.

A three-member committee headed by a deputy commissioner of Barishal Metropolitan Police was formed to investigate the matter.

Police officers also said that Reja was a drug dealer and an addict and that he died because of complications related to his addiction.

Reja's uncle Abdul Barek Hawlader said SI Mohiuddin arrested Reja around 8:00pm on December 29 at a roadside tea stall near his home on Hamid Khan Road in the city.

Reja was sent to Barisal Central Jail the next day, he said.

Jail Superintendent Prashant Kumar Banik said, "After he [Reja] was brought to the jail on December 30, our doctor sent him to the prison hospital. The forwarding documents mentioned injuries to both ankles.

"On January 1, he started bleeding from his feet. He was then sent to the medical college hospital and his family was informed about this."

Reja's father Yunus Munshi said his son was in good health at the time of his arrest.

He added that jail authorities called him around 9:00pm on Friday and said that Reja was bleeding after he fell in the bathroom and that he was admitted to the hospital.

"We went to the hospital and found injuries on his legs, chest and neck. He must have been beaten up with sticks. He was losing blood with stool and urine," he said.

"Police tortured and killed my son, I want a fair investigation and justice,'' he added.

His neighbour Sujan also told The Daily Star that there were injury marks all over Reja's body.

DB Deputy Commissioner Manjur Hossain said Reja fell ill because of his addiction and police had not tortured him.

Meanwhile, over a hundred locals of Sagordi area where SI Mohiuddin lives barricaded a street and threw brick chips at the officer's house yesterday evening.